Fire Safety in the WorkplaceFire safety should be a concern throughout the year for business owners, yet with increased awareness of the special hazards posed by the holidays at home, that awareness naturally spreads to the workplace. Depending on what kind of business you manage, your employees may be spending more time indoors as winter weather hits, turning on heaters and running more electrical devices than in cooler temperatures. Death and injury are of course the greatest risks of workplace fires, but those blazes also destroy livelihoods: many workplaces destroyed by fire are never rebuilt.
Keep your employees and your business safe with these fire safety tips from the Electronic Security Association (ESA):

• Your fire detection and suppression system can be integrated with your existing security system. Find an ESA-member company here to speak with an electronic security expert on what comprehensive system is best for your business.

• Practice good workplace housekeeping. Clutter contributes to fires by providing fuel and by preventing access to exits and emergency equipment.

• Limit the amount of appliances and devices plugged into a single outlet. Overloaded sockets could pose a risk for electrical fire.

• Personal heaters can, if left unattended ignite flammable materials. Consider limiting your employees’ use of them, and if they are allowed make sure they are closely monitored and unplugged when not in use.

• Make sure all holiday decorations, such as Christmas trees, observe all fire safety rules and are unplugged after business hours. Not only will this help prevent possible fires, but also reduces the hit to your power bill.

• Help maintain facility security to prevent arson. Make sure your security system meets the needs of your business by consulting with an ESA-member company. Make sure any flammable garbage is properly disposed of so it can’t be set on fire outside your building.

• Maintain free access to all electrical control panels. Material or equipment stored in front of the panels would slow down the shutting down of power in an emergency situation.

• Make sure all fire exits are marked and always visible and accessible. You should have a written emergency plan and train employees for evacuation.

• Make sure your staff knows where fire extinguishers are located and how to use them in an emergency. Make sure you have extinguishers suited for the most likely types of fire you would encounter in your workplace (electrical, chemical, etc.).

To learn more about how to protect your business, be sure to contact an ESA member company today and visit www.Alarm.org for more helpful tips.